Inspirational aerialist shows what it takes to be a successful circus star

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It might seem effortless when our award-winning high-wire walkers The Gerlings tiptoe across the tightrope – and when they perform their spectacular four-person-high pyramid at Gandeys Circus…

The Cuban Flyers attempt a stunning triple somersault with seemingly no sweat…

The Kenyan Acrobats tumble and flip without a care in the world…

Manuel swerves and slides on an acrobatic pole so smoothly, it’s like child’s play…

The Cuban Flyers at Gandeys Circus

But every single performer at our circus has spent years honing their act. Audiences are amazed and inspired by their impressive skills every day, and our stars strive for constant improvement and excellence.

With this in mind, here’s something we spotted on BBC News this week that gave us goose bumps – an incredible snapshot of what goes on in the mind of a top aerialist.

In this short film, seven-time US acro-gymnastics champion Christine Van Loo tells how she sacrificed a normal teenage life and even went without electricity, so she could become the very best.



At 27, she decided she wanted to become an aerialist, and over 20 years later, she’s still flying on the trapeze and twisting on aerial straps – and has worked with Paul McCartney, Ricky Martin, Aerosmith and Britney Spears.

But the most interesting thing about Christine is her take on what makes her successful: the thought, ‘am I good enough?’

Her success didn’t come without ‘learning to be uncomfortable’for a while... something all our performers across Gandeys Circus and Spirit of the Horse will have inevitably have identified with before they became confident and skilled enough to make their acts appear effortless for your entertainment.

Christine Van Loo. Image is a screenshot from BBC News video.


And on a less thought-provoking level, we're also loving her outfit choices (and we think the Lady Boys would too) – more rhinestones? More bling? You can never have too much...

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